Verisk says claims fell in 2025 as losses grew more concentrated
Verisk reported lower insurance claim volumes in 2025, though wildfire, motor theft, gig work and newer liability risks drove tougher loss patterns
🇺🇸 California Insurance News
Latest California insurance news from US insurers and regulators. Explore auto, home, life, P&C, pet and health insurance, including insurance rates, insights, trends, and breaking insurance news from the United States.
Tesla sued over Cybertruck crash linked to electric door failures
Lawsuit alleges Tesla door systems trapped occupants in fatal Cybertruck crash, adding to growing scrutiny over electric door safety risks
Trump administration probes states over abortion insurance mandates
HHS investigates 13 states requiring abortion coverage, citing Weldon Amendment disputes and renewed federal enforcement stance
California bill proposes statewide rules for wildfire smoke insurance claims
California lawmakers introduced legislation designed to standardize how insurers handle wildfire smoke damage claims. The proposal follows major fires that contaminated thousands of homes
California FAIR Plan expands as insurers withdraw from lower-risk neighborhoods
California’s property insurance market shows growing strain as insurers retreat from areas once considered moderate wildfire risk
Police officers arrested in U.S. insurance fraud investigations tied to benefits claims
Two officers from the Los Angeles Police Department were arrested Friday on suspicion of unemployment insurance fraud linked to claims
California bill targets insurer hurdles for rare disease drugs
California lawmakers advance bipartisan bill to bar prior authorization and step therapy for FDA-approved rare disease treatments
California family accused of staging Porsche crash for $39K in insurance claims
Pasadena trio charged with felony insurance fraud after alleged staged Porsche crash netted $38,932 in claims, say California regulators
California auto insurance rates in 2026 jump over 30% since 2023
California drivers face auto premium hikes exceeding 30% in two years, driven by repair costs, heavier vehicles and inflation pressures
California bill targets wildfire non-renewals, adds 6-month notice
California lawmakers propose requiring insurers to give six months’ notice and specific reasons before dropping homeowners over wildfire risk
Insurtech Kin lifts GWP 28% to $635 mn as renewal base expands
Insurtech Kin reports 28% GWP growth to $634.4 mn, rising renewal premiums and improved operating margin despite softer insurance market conditions
US Labor Department probes California unemployment insurance program
The US Department of Labor announced formal steps to examine fraud and improper payment risks within California’s Unemployment Insurance program
California moves to tighten insurance rate-review intervenor rules under Prop 103
Ricardo Lara proposes stricter timelines, online disclosures, and revised fee standards for Administrative Hearing Bureau proceedings
House Bill 5608 weighs ban on credit scores in insurance underwriting
House Bill 5608 would bar use of credit history in rating, underwriting, cancellations across personal lines
California weighs first smoke damage standards for insurance claims
California lawmakers are reviewing Assembly Bill 1795, a proposal to establish the first statewide standards in the US for smoke damage insurance claims
Los Angeles wildfires reveal gaps in insurance wildfire risk models
Analysis of the Jan 2025 Los Angeles fires shows why fuel structure, access, and ember dynamics matter more than ignition risk for insurance underwriting
Insurtech Kin rolls out auto cover in Florida and Texas to enable bundling
Digital insurer Kin launches auto insurance for Florida and Texas homeowners, offering bundled savings of up to 20% in high-cost markets
Nevada’s Affordable Care Act enrollment slips 5.5% as subsidies fade, officials stay calm
Nevada Health Link reports stable ACA enrollment despite higher premiums and expired subsidies, with public option plans drawing 10% of signups
Lawmakers grill insurers over CEO pay as patients face rising costs
Bipartisan House members question health insurance CEOs on executive pay levels amid affordability pressures and frequent claim denials
Karen Bass says Trump oversteps on LA wildfire rebuild permits
LA Mayor Karen Bass pushes back on Trump’s executive order to speed wildfire rebuilding, saying permit control sits locally and insurers, FEMA need pressure
Jane Kim enters California insurance commissioner race with public option plan
Former San Francisco supervisor Jane Kim launches bid for California insurance commissioner, proposing a state-backed insurance option and tighter industry oversight
Insurtech Lemonade launches Autonomous Car Insurance for Tesla FSD drivers
Lemonade introduces autonomous car insurance for Tesla FSD, cutting per-mile rates by about 50% using real vehicle data and AI pricing models
California blocks home insurance non-renewals after Gifford Fire
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara orders a one-year moratorium protecting nearly 150,000 homeowners from insurance non-renewals after the Gifford Fire
Crowded field emerges for California insurance commissioner race
More than a dozen candidates signal interest in the 2026 California insurance commissioner race as Ricardo Lara exits due to term limits
US homeowners face chronic underinsurance as LA wildfire losses mount
Wildfires expose decades of US home underinsurance, with studies showing most policies fall short of rebuilding costs as climate risks and prices rise
Commercial property rates fall double digits as capacity floods back
Buyers closed year-end renewals with sharp reductions as reinsurers cut pricing, catastrophe losses stayed muted, and insurers pushed for growth
California pushes AI rules despite Trump threats and tech pressure
California lawmakers press ahead with AI regulation despite Trump’s funding threat, as tech giants warn rules could drive companies out
Los Angeles wildfires drive $22.4 bn in claims as insurance losses mount
California insurers have paid $22.4 bn on wildfire claims, with insured losses projected up to $40 bn as rate hikes and regulatory battles intensify
Atmospheric rivers raise California flood risk as insurance gaps grow
Climate change is intensifying California’s atmospheric rivers, increasing flood and mudslide risk while most homeowners lack flood insurance
Wildfire cat bonds draw ILS investors as modeling improves, issuance jumps
Investors move into wildfire-linked cat bonds as modeling improves, driving over $5 bn in issuance and pushing the market toward $60 bn in 2025
California jury hits Liberty Mutual with $103 mn age bias verdict
A California jury awards $103mn against Liberty Mutual after finding age discrimination in the firing of a long-time claims case manager
John Garamendi attacks California insurance chief over premiums, drops
Former insurance commissioner John Garamendi accuses Ricardo Lara of failing California consumers amid rising premiums, policy nonrenewals, and insurer profits
California court limits insurance commissioner’s power over FAIR Plan
A California appeals court says the insurance commissioner can’t force the FAIR Plan to add liability-style coverages beyond basic property insurance
California pushes insurance overhaul as FAIR Plan growth signals deep strain
California’s insurance market reforms expand coverage in wildfire-distressed regions as FAIR Plan counts surge and rate reviews accelerate under new rules
Hesperia and Adelanto suspects tied to staged rideshare crash and insurance fraud case
Four men face felony convictions after a staged rideshare crash on I-215. A fifth suspect from Adelanto now confronts added charges including pimping and false imprisonment
Farmers Insurance drops policy cap as California seeks stability amid wildfire risk
Farmers removes its cap on new homeowners policies in California, pressuring rivals and expanding coverage in wildfire-distressed regions
State Farm seeks 6.2% auto insurance rate cut in California as losses ease
State Farm moves to trim California auto rates by 6.2% for early 2026 as comprehensive and collision losses fall across the state
California’s insurance regulator drafts long-term solvency rule to tackle AI and climate risk
California’s insurance regulator unveils a solvency rule addressing climate risk, cyberthreats, and AI misuse, requiring insurers to plan decades ahead
Tesla Insurance faces license threat in California over 2,500+ violations
California regulators accuse Tesla Insurance and State National of thousands of violations, threaten suspensions, fines up to $10k, and license loss
California health plan automates provider services with Ushur AI Agent
A top California health plan uses Ushur’s AI Agent to automate benefits, claims, and credentialing support, cutting costs and improving provider satisfaction
California advances first public wildfire catastrophe model under SB 429
SB 429 would create a state-run wildfire catastrophe model, pooling risk data to guide insurance rates, mitigation strategies, and public oversight
California FAIR Plan seeks 35.8% rate hike on dwelling fire and allied lines
California’s FAIR Plan filed for a 35.8% rate hike, with fire up 29.3% and allied lines surging 349.7%, citing wildfire risk and reinsurance costs
State Farm to add wildfire fee on California policies after $1 bn FAIR Plan hit
State Farm policyholders in California face temporary fees as the insurer recoups part of its share of the $1bn FAIR Plan wildfire assessment
California approved a package of bills reshaping the state’s FAIR Plan
California expands FAIR Plan with new financing tools, mobile home coverage, automatic payment rules, and oversight reforms under Newsom’s signed bills
California insurer IEHP faces DOJ over $320 mn Medi-Cal overpayment dispute
DOJ accuses IEHP of misusing $320mn in Medi-Cal funds through sham programs, false statements, and improper expenses. IEHP vows to fight the claims
Bamboo Insurance with Accredited to launch E&S homeowners cover in California
Bamboo Insurance partners with Accredited to launch E&S Signature in California, expanding coverage as carriers exit the state’s volatile homeowners market
California workers’ compensation rates rise as costs climb, Ricardo Lara warns lawmakers
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has approved an 8.7% increase in advisory pure premium rates for workers’ compensation policies renewing on or after September 1
California proposes Federal Reinsurance Program to stabilize insurance and cut costs
California Democrat Sen. Adam Schiff introduced legislation to establish a federal catastrophic reinsurance program intended to stabilize state property insurance markets and reduce premiums
California FAIR Plan exposure surges 42% to $650 bn as wildfire risks rise
The California FAIR Plan’s exposure rose 42% to $650 bn during the nine months ending in June, as more insurers declined to renew or offer policies
California Regulator Orders Innovative Partners to Stop Illegal Health Coverage Sales
The California Department of Insurance (CDI) issued a cease-and-desist order to Innovative Partners LP, stating the company operated illegally as an insurance provider
California investigates State Farm General Insurance over wildfire claims handling
State Farm General Insurance confirmed it is cooperating with a market conduct examination initiated by the California Department of Insurance
California FAIR Plan paid $2.7 bn after receiving more than 5,000 claims from LA wildfires
California FAIR Plan paid $2.7 bn after receiving more than 5,000 claims from the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles
California insurance department forms task force to set smoke damage standards
The California Department of Insurance (CDI) is forming a task force to develop clear rules for insurance coverage and cleanup procedures related to smoke-damaged homes
California Insurance Commissioner approved State Farm’s request for rate increases to 38%
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara approved State Farm General Insurance Co.’s request for interim rate increases ranging from 15% to 38%
California Assembly Insurance Committee approved the California Safe Homes Act
The California Assembly Insurance Committee approved the California Safe Homes Act with a 16-0 vote. The legislation, backed by the insurance industry
California advances bill 354 to strengthen consumer data privacy in insurance
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara supports proposed legislation to create updated consumer privacy rules for insurers
U.S. insurers face $50 bn in Q1 losses amid Los Angeles Wildfires and Storms
U.S. insurers accounted for the majority of global insured losses in the first quarter, which reached the highest level in 15 years
California insurers accused of collusion to force homeowners onto high-cost Fair Plan
Two law firms representing California homeowners have accused several of the state’s largest home insurance companies of working together to eliminate standard property policies
California approves major FAIR Plan expansion to help access insurance coverage
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced the approval of the California FAIR Plan Association’s commercial filing to increase commercial property coverage limits
Insurtech Kin introduced a new home insurance in California
Home insurtech Kin Insurance has introduced a new home insurance option in California to address the growing coverage gap in high-risk areas
Global InsurTech funding rose 19.5% to $5.1 bn, with Q4 driving momentum as deal count and average size increased sharply, marking the first annual increase since 2021
InsurTech moves past disruption narrative, focuses on underwriting, AI, and operational efficiency as funding drops and insurers demand measurable results
The first notice of loss (FNOL) is the starting point for every insurance claim. It sets the tone for the entire claims cycle. And for years, this process has been manual
InsurTech funding crossed a significant milestone in Q2 2025, with $60.8bn raised since records began in 2012. The data reflects the scale of investor appetite over 10Y